Hasina opens countdown to ‘Mujib Year’

The countdown to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary celebrations has begun after re-enactment of his homecoming, reports bdnews24.com.

His daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pressed the button after her speech and unveiling of the logo for the celebrations at the event in the old airport in Dhaka's Tejgaon on Friday to start the countdown clocks in 83 places throughout Bangladesh.

The yearlong celebrations, Mujib Barsha or Mujib Year, will start at the end of the countdown on Mar 17, the 100th birth anniversary of the nation's independence architect. Programmes will be organised abroad as well.

Besides Hasina, her son and ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wajed Joy and her sister Sheikh Rehana, other members of the family, cabinet ministers, more than 2,000 guests and over 10,000 visitors registered online gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the moment when Bangabandhu returned home 48 years ago.

On Jan 10, 1972, Bangabandhu flew back to the country via London and New Delhi after his release by Pakistan following the emergence of Bangladesh as a free nation through the defeat of the Pakistani armed forces in the nine-month long war.

Jan 10 has since been observed as Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day.

The Pakistani occupation army arrested Bangabandhu from his Dhanmondi residence on road number 32 early on Mar 26, 1971, just after he proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh through a message.

The Pakistani army launched a brutal crackdown in Dhaka that night.

The nation was ultimately delivered from the Pakistani occupation after the war inspired by his brave leadership, even as Bangabandhu remained detained in a Pakistani prison.

His return following the release from jail ushered fully fledged celebrations of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.

For the event celebrating Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day and the countdown to Mujib Year, the visitors from different ages and walks of life began massing at the venue at 2pm.

Hasina and Professor Md Rafiqul Islam, the head of a national committee to organise the Mujib Year programmes, took seat onstage around 4:30pm.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Bangabandhu's grandson Joy, top Awami League leaders, and distinguished citizens were present.

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, who heads the opposition alliance Jatiya Oikya Front, and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, a former president of the country, also joined the celebrations.

Under international pressure, Pakistan released Bangabandhu from jail on Jan 8 in 1972 and he was flown to London by a PIA plane. From there he came to Dhaka by a comet jet of the British Royal Air Force via New Delhi.

A plane resembling the one that carried Sheikh Mujib in 1972 landed at the airport at the beginning of the programme.

The song "Bangabandhu Phire Ele Tomar Swapner Swadhin Banglai" (Bangabandhu, you have returned to the independent Bangla you dreamt of) sung by Sandhya Mukhopadhyay was played when the plane's engine stopped.

When its door opened, a 21-gun salute was held. As many as 150 people carrying flags waited along a red carpet.

An image of Bangabandhu was created at the door with laser and it was moved through the carpet to a dais amid "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" slogan and flower shower. A smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces performed guard of honour.

Hasina delivered the speech and inaugurated the countdown afterwards.